Editorial: Historic buildings --Needs can't be put off

Published Thursday, August 02, 2007

The University of Florida's assessment of repairs to St. Augustine's state-owned historic buildings is an eye-popper: $22.5 million. It's unfortunate but true. Sticker shock is an understatement. UF professionals in architecture, engineering, physical plant maintenance and building construction documented more than 300 hours here assessing the deterioration.

As you read this, you might say, "What do you expect with old buildings?"

But most of the need is for repairs to Government House at $14.27 million, a 1700s building that was reconstructed in 1937, with the exception of its coquina walls in the east wing. Replica buildings, vintage 1960s and 1970s, also require major repairs.

UF needs the community to direct its energy in support of its request to the Legislature next spring for: a multi-year allocation of the $22.5 million, a one-time request for $500,000 for a comprehensive communitywide master plan for heritage tourism management, and an annual maintenance allocation of $488,937. These buildings are state buildings. They were leased to the city of St. Augustine in 1997 without further state funding other than competitive grants, one building at a time. It's time for the state to clean up the mess.

State Rep. Bill Proctor, R-St. Augustine, and state Sen. Jim King, R-Jacksonville, pushed legislative approval last spring to transfer the leased properties from the city to UF. The approval came without money but with a promise of future funding. The UF has yet to sign a lease agreement. It wants a commitment of the funds first. Who can blame UF for being cautious?

Proctor is optimistic state funds will begin to flow next July. We share his optimism. The UF will save historic buildings, offer fantastic educational opportunities for university students in a wide range of majors, enhance heritage tourism and boost our economy overall.

We know the UF cost analysis for 34 downtown St. Augustine buildings is not what the Legislature and Gov. Charlie Crist want to hear. They are committed to property tax reform statewide; huge cutbacks in government spending.

But six years from now, we're starting a big two-year party expected to draw guests from around the world. In 2013, Florida will celebrate the 500th anniversary of its discovery by Ponce de Leon. In 2015, St. Augustine, the nation's oldest permanent European settlement in the United States, will celebrate its 450th birthday.

The state cannot afford for St. Augustine to look shabby on the world's center stage.

We're asking our civic advocates countywide to adopt UF's program in St. Augustine and help convince lawmakers and Crist of its importance to heritage tourism statewide.

Ed Poppell, UF's vice president for business affairs, says "St. Augustine is the national treasure; it should be the state's biggest treasure." We can't agree more.